Hunt Hot in Win Over Spokane

Nick Murray

Your Moose Jaw Warriors were back on the ice at Mosaic Place on Saturday night for a showdown with the tough U.S. division rivals; the Spokane Chiefs.

Spokane sits at second in their division, with 4 wins, 1 loss and two shootout losses.

In the drive to Moose Jaw, the Chiefs took a pit stop at the roadside memorial for the 1986 Swift Current Broncos bus crash and took a team picture. 4 players perished in that accident which was caused by black ice on the highway.

Moose Jaw has played well recently, but lost a nail-biter the previous evening that they should have won.

Spokane's offensive arsenal is fronted by Regina native Riley Woods, stoic defender Ty Smith and stellar goaltending from Bailey Brkin, who is currently allowing less than two goals per game.

The Warriors have so far struggled to get production out of all but three players, but as of yet, Tristan Langan, Josh Brook and Justin Almeida have been spectacular

The first period belonged, for the most part, to Spokane. They seemed to be most in control, but solid defending kept the scoreboard blank until Ty Smith broke the deadlock at 18:58, assists by Riley Woods and Eli Zummack.

After period one it was 1-0 Chiefs.

The Warriors got that back midway through period two, and on a positive note, it came from the a line other than the Langan/Almeida one. Tate Popple got his first of the season in a wraparound that squeaked past Dawson Weatherill, who got the start over Brkin.

The tie only lasted a few minutes before Smith pocketed his second of the game to put the Chiefs back in front 2-1.

If there is one thing we have learned about this 2018 Moose Jaw Warriors team it's that they don't lay down and die and they refuse to let a team best them without an intense battle. Brayden Tracey solidified that battle when he knocked in a rebound to even the score in the waning moments of period two. The goal was Tracy's third of the season. It was assisted by Daemon Hunt and Justin Almeida.

It was 2-2 entering the third period.

Hunt and Tracey reconnected again, in the fourth minute, on a slapper from just inside the blue line. The goal was Hunt's first of the campaign.

Here comes the part of the game where Moose Jaw can't hold onto a lead. Josh Brook took the first bolt out of the wheels when he got a game misconduct for checking from behind. That put Spokane on the Power Play in which they tied the game. Riley Woods with his seventh goal of the season and an assist from Smith meant he had a hand in all three Chief goals so far; doing to the Warriors exactly what Schael Higson did in Brandon the night previous.

https://www.mjindependent.com/sports/2018/10/13/warriors-unable-to-finish-wheat-kings

But wouldn't you know it, it was Moose Jaw who would break the tie, Daemon Hunt, again, coming up large and capping off the most impressive game of his young hockey career. His second goal of the night, third point put his team in front with only a few minutes left on the clock. Assists on the goal came courtesy of Cameron Sterling and Tate Popple.

Spokane pulled their goalie and applied some late pressure but were unable to get the Puck behind Brodan Salmon, who made 27 saves on the night.

Moose Jaw defeats Spokane 4-3

Daemon Hunt, Ty Smith and Brayden Tracey were the games Three Stars, respectively.

Warriors host the Calgary Hitmen on Friday.